Things to Do

Markets and Shopping Near Jervis Bay

By JervisBay.org

#jervis bay markets#huskisson markets#berry markets#jervis bay shopping#shoalhaven markets

Markets, Makers, and Local Finds

Jervis Bay isn’t a shopping destination in the conventional sense. There are no malls, no outlet centres, no high streets lined with chain stores. But that’s precisely the appeal. What you will find is a scattered collection of local markets, independent shops, galleries, and farm-gate producers that reward browsing and give you something genuinely connected to the place.

Markets are a highlight of the region. Held on weekends in and around the bay, they bring together local growers, artisans, and food producers in settings that range from village greens to coastal parks. A morning at the markets — coffee in hand, browsing stalls of local honey, handmade ceramics, and fresh-shucked oysters — is one of the great small pleasures of a Jervis Bay visit.

Regular Markets

Huskisson Markets

The main market in the Jervis Bay area, held on the second Saturday of each month at the Huskisson Sportsground.

What you’ll find:

  • Local produce — seasonal fruit and veg, honey, preserves, olive oil, baked goods
  • Artisan goods — handmade jewellery, pottery, woodwork, candles, soaps
  • Clothing — handmade and vintage
  • Art — original paintings, prints, photography
  • Food stalls — fresh crepes, coffee, wood-fired pizza, Vietnamese rolls
  • Plants — native seedlings, succulents, herbs

The vibe: Relaxed, friendly, and genuinely local. This isn’t a curated designer market — it’s a community event where you’ll chat to the person who grew the tomatoes, the artist who painted the seascape, and the retired fisherman selling hand-tied lures. It’s busier in summer and during school holidays but never overwhelming.

Practical details:

  • When: Second Saturday of each month, 8am to 1pm (approximately)
  • Where: Huskisson Sportsground, Dent Street, Huskisson
  • Parking: Along surrounding streets. Arrive early in peak season
  • Cost: Free entry, bring cash for stalls (some take card but not all)

After the markets, walk down to the Huskisson waterfront — it’s a five-minute stroll to the cafes, shops, and wharf. A morning at the markets followed by a waterfront lunch is an excellent rainy day alternative or a complement to a beach day.

Berry Markets

Berry is a charming heritage village about 20 minutes’ drive north of Huskisson. Its market is one of the most popular in the Shoalhaven region and well worth the short drive.

What you’ll find:

  • A bigger and more established market than Huskisson
  • Strong focus on gourmet food — artisan cheese, charcuterie, organic produce, olive oils, fermented goods
  • High-quality arts and crafts — many professional makers sell here
  • Vintage and antique items
  • Live music
  • Excellent food trucks and hot food stalls

The vibe: More polished than Huskisson, with a food-focused, slightly upmarket feel. Berry draws visitors from across the Shoalhaven and South Coast, so it’s busier. The market occupies the Berry Showground, a large grassy space with plenty of room even on busy days.

Practical details:

  • When: First Sunday of each month, 8am to 2pm
  • Where: Berry Showground, Alexandra Street, Berry
  • Parking: Showground parking plus surrounding streets. Can fill up by mid-morning on busy months
  • Cost: Small entry fee (usually a gold coin donation)

Combining with Jervis Bay: Drive up to Berry for the morning market, browse the town’s excellent main street shops, have lunch at one of Berry’s renowned cafes, then head south to Jervis Bay for an afternoon beach session. It’s a full day but a very good one.

Milton Markets

Milton, a small heritage town about 30 minutes south of Huskisson, runs a market on the first Saturday of each month. It’s smaller than Berry but has a devoted following among locals.

What you’ll find:

  • Local produce, plants, and preserves
  • Handmade goods with a strong emphasis on sustainability and ethical production
  • Vintage and pre-loved items
  • Coffee and breakfast stalls

The vibe: Artsy, alternative, and very community-driven. Milton itself is worth exploring — the main street has excellent independent bookshops, galleries, and cafes.

Practical details:

  • When: First Saturday of each month, 8am to 12pm
  • Where: Milton Showground, Princes Highway, Milton
  • Parking: Easy outside peak season

Shoalhaven Heads Village Market

Held in the small community park at Shoalhaven Heads, about 15 minutes north of Huskisson. A smaller, quieter market with a neighbourhood feel.

Practical details:

  • When: Second Sunday of each month, 8:30am to 12:30pm
  • Where: Jerry Bailey Oval, Shoalhaven Heads
  • A good option for a quiet morning out without the crowds of Berry

Shopping in Huskisson

Huskisson’s main street, Owen Street, is the primary shopping strip in the Jervis Bay area. It’s short — you can walk end to end in ten minutes — but packed with independent shops worth browsing.

Highlights

Galleries and art: Huskisson has several galleries showing work by local and regional artists. Paintings of the bay’s beaches and bush, photography prints, ceramics, and sculpture. If you’re looking for a meaningful souvenir or a piece of art for your wall, this is the place. Prices range from affordable prints to serious investment pieces.

Surf and beach shops: A few shops stock surfwear, swimwear, and beach accessories. Nothing you can’t find in any coastal town, but useful for the hat, rashie, or pair of thongs you forgot to pack.

Bookshops: A small independent bookshop carries a curated selection with a lean toward local interest, coastal lifestyle, and nature writing. Good for holiday reading.

Homewares and gifts: Several shops stock coastal-inspired homewares, candles, skincare, and gifts. Quality varies — some stock genuinely interesting local products, others lean toward generic coastal gift shop territory. Browse before you buy.

Food and drink: Specialty food stores carrying local olive oil, honey, macadamia products, fudge, and confectionery. Good for gifts to take home or provisions for your holiday rental.

Shopping in Berry

If you’re a serious browser, allocate a full morning to Berry. The main street (Queen Street) is widely regarded as one of the best small-town shopping streets on the South Coast.

What makes Berry special:

  • Antique and vintage shops — several excellent dealers in the main street, with stock ranging from furniture to jewellery to vintage clothing
  • Homewares — well-curated stores with a mix of local and imported goods. Think French linen, handmade pottery, artisan kitchen items
  • Fashion — independent boutiques carrying Australian labels you won’t find in chain stores
  • Food — the Berry Donut Van (an institution, queue expected), artisan bakeries, specialty providores
  • Gardens — the Berry Garden Centre and surrounding nurseries are destinations in their own right

Berry rewards slow browsing. Allow 2 to 3 hours for the main street, more if you want to eat.

Farm Gates and Local Producers

Some of the best shopping near Jervis Bay doesn’t happen in shops at all. The Shoalhaven region is home to a growing number of producers who sell directly from their farm gates or cellar doors.

Oysters

Jervis Bay and the surrounding estuaries produce exceptional Sydney rock oysters. Several growers offer farm-gate sales — freshly shucked oysters at the water’s edge. See our oyster trail guide for locations and visiting tips.

Dairy

The Shoalhaven is dairy country. Local creameries produce artisan cheese, yoghurt, and butter. The Berry area has several cellar doors where you can taste and buy.

Wine and Beer

The Shoalhaven Coast wine region is small but produces some interesting cool-climate wines — particularly Chambourcin, Verdelho, and sparkling. Several cellar doors are within 30 minutes of Jervis Bay and offer tastings.

Craft breweries have also established in the region. A tasting paddle at a local brewery is a pleasant afternoon activity, especially if the weather isn’t cooperating for the beach.

Honey

South Coast honey, particularly from the coastal bushland around Jervis Bay, is distinctive and sought after. Several local beekeepers sell from farm gates and at the markets. It makes an excellent gift.

Olive Oil

The Shoalhaven has a small but quality olive oil industry. Local producers sell cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil at farm gates and markets.

Tips for Market and Shopping Visits

Bring cash. Many market stallholders and small shops don’t take card, or set minimum transaction amounts. ATMs exist in Huskisson and Berry but can queue in peak season.

Go early. Markets are best in the first couple of hours — the freshest produce, the fullest selection, and a relaxed atmosphere before the crowds build. By late morning, the best items are often sold out.

Combine with a meal. Markets and shopping pair naturally with the area’s dining scene. Morning markets, lunch at a local cafe, afternoon at the beach. See our dining guide for recommendations.

Check dates. Markets run on specific weekends each month. If a market is important to your trip, plan around it. Dates occasionally shift for public holidays — check locally before making a special drive.

Bring your own bags. Increasingly expected and appreciated at markets and local shops.

Drive to Berry. Seriously. Even if you’re not a shopper, Berry’s main street and markets are worth the 20-minute drive from Huskisson. It’s consistently rated as one of the most charming small towns in NSW and adds a different dimension to a Jervis Bay holiday.